|
1. OLD TOWN (Gamla stan)
A unique environment – incredible atmosphere
.jpg)
Photo: Sofia Andersson
This is where everything began in the 13th century. Stadsholmen, which is the island’s real name, offers among other things historical sites, the Royal Palace and a delightful atmosphere.
The Old Town is really unique. It’s impossible not to feel the ambiance of history as you walk the narrow streets and alleys. This area is almost always bustling with people, but in a relaxed way.
The Old Town is a place you shouldn’t miss. The restaurants and cafés are packed along side each other in more or less every alley.
Subway: Gamla stan
2. THE ROYAL PALACE (Kungliga slottet)
Visit historical grounds and check out the impressive buildings and the parade of guards. If that isn't enough, may we suggest a visit to one of the Palace's museums?
.jpg)
Photo: Andreas Sperling
In 1697 the castle Tre Kronor was partially burned to the ground, creating the need for a new one. It took until 1754 when the Royal family of the time, Adolf Fredrik and his wife Lovisa Ulrika, could move into the newly built palace. The man who received the honour of drawing the palace in the style of neo-baroque, was Nikodemus Tessin who passed away before he had the chance to see his masterpiece completed.
The palace is one of Europe's largest with over six hundred rooms, many of which are constantly open to the public. Also, His Majesty the King regularly opens some of the other rooms to the public.
The palace is lavishly decorated with art and statues in many different styles. On top of that the beautiful location with a view over Skeppsholmen, Helgeandsholmen, the canal and the National Museum, gives it an extra charm.
Ever since the King Gustav Vasa period in the 16th century, the Palace has been guarded day and night by the main guards. The shifting of the guards is done in conjunction with the popular parade of the guards.
King Carl XVI Gustav no longer resides in the Royal Palace, he now lives in Drottningholm's Palace outside of Stockholm. The Royal Palace is however still his workplace and much of his representative duties are still performed here.
At the palace you'll also find:
Livrustkammaren (The Royal Armoury)
Gustav III:s Antikmuseum (Gustav the third's Museum of Antiques)
Skattkammaren (Yhe Treasure Chamber)
Museum Tre kronor
Price: Adult 90 Kr, 7-8 years 35 Kr
Slottsbacken 1 - Stockholm
Old town - downtown Stockholm
Phone: 08-402 60 00
www.royalcourt.se
3. SERGELS TORG
"The Plate" is probably Stockholm's most famous and talked-about spot. Loved and hated, ugly and beautiful: everyone has an opinion about it. One thing is for sure however, "The Plate" is active all year round.
.jpg)
Photo: StockholmGo
Sergels torg square, or "The Plate" as the lower part of the square is called, is a square in the centre of downtown Stockholm.This square is by many considered to be the most central spot in downtown Stockholm.
In the one corner of the square you'll find the huge department store Åhléns City, in the other the five tall buildings referred to as "Hötorgsskraporna" and on the opposite side of the square you'll find the House of Culture (Kulturhuset).
Sergels torg was named after the image carver Johan Tobias Sergel and the name was supposedly suggested by the legendary Swedish troubadour and poet Evert Taube. The lower portion in the west of the square has a ground surface that is comprised of black and white triangles. The pattern has become nationally famous and is now the square's most recognized attribute.
At the centre of the square there's a fountain designed by the Danish artist Piet Hein and the architect David Helldén.A tall sculpture called the "Crystal vertical accent" stands tall from the centre of the fountain. This glass obelisk was drawn by Edvin Öhrström.
It's somewhat of a custom in Stockholm for sports fans to take a dip in the fountain as a way of celebrating important victories, usually by a Swedish national team or by one of the three Stockholm-based football clubs AIK, Djurgården and Hammarby.
The square is more often than not full with people and it's a natural meeting place for Stockholm residents. While you're here, we recommend that you enter the House of Culture and take the elevator all the way up to get to the building's roof.There you'll find StockholmsTerrassen which is a seven-hundred square metre outdoor restaurant and a green oasis looking out over Sergels torg square.Here they offer refreshments and food to go along with the magnificent view of downtown Stockholm.
Subway: T-centralen
4. DJURGÅRDEN
Djurgården is a favourite spot here in Stockholm that you shouldn't miss. Aside from all the attractions here, like Skansen, Gröna Lund, The Vasa Museum and The Nordic Museum, there are also an endless number of places perfect for walks and picnics on Djurgården.
.jpg)
Photo: Andreas Sperling
The area is almost 300 000 square metres and the coastline is almost 10 000 metres. There's a beach side walk around almost all of Djurgården and along the way you can buy ice-cream and coffee.
On sunny days, regardless of the time of year, many Stockholmers will make there way here for a walk or a jog to get a short break from the stress of the big city.
The route along Djurgårdsbrunnsviken is beautiful with the small cannel surrounded by thick greenery. During the 1912 Olympics the bay was used for the Olympic swimming and rowing competitions. If you want to walk around the bay, the distance is almost 5 000 metres.
Rosendals Trädgård (garden) is also a beautiful spot with plenty of flower plantations. Here there's a well-renowned café with a bakery. While you're in the area you should visit Rosendals Slott, which was King Karl XIV Johan's recreational castle.
Galärparken is a popular place for picnics, boules, and the sport of "burn ball" (similar to baseball). On a hot summer's day or evening you should get some friends together, bring a basket with delicacies and hang out in the park. From here you'll get a great view of a large part of downtown Stockholm and you won't want to hit the hotel room until the sun sets.
Connection:
Bus 47 towards Waldemarsudde or Bus 69 towards Blockhusudden, get off at Djurgårdsbron.
Ferry: The Djurgården ferries from Slussen.
5. STUREPLAN
Stureplan is a well-known square on Östermalmstorg in downtown Stockholm. The place is often referred to as "Sweden's entertainment zone" or "the center point of fashionable Stockholm".
.jpg)
Photo: Sofia Andersson
Here you'll find Sturegallerian mall and Sweden's most exclusive shopping street Biblioteksgatan.Around Stureplan you'll also find several of Sweden and Scandinavia's most famous and talked about clubs, among others Spy Bar and Sturecompagniet. A few stone throws away, in Kungsträdgården, you'll find the well renowned club Café Opera.
The shopping is good around Stureplan. The brand loyalist will find exclusive stores like Versace, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss and several others. Stureplan is also Stockholm's financial district with many companies and banks in the surrounding buildings.
A large part of the clientele on Östermalm and Stureplan are among Sweden's most well off and it's reflected in their clothes and cars. As a result basically all of the restaurants and bars in the area maintain a high standard. When you're at Stureplan or Östermalmstorg, which is in the vicinity, it can be a nice experience having lunch inside the traditional market hall Östermalms Saluhall. Here Stockholm's freshest ingredients are mixed with popular restaurants like Lisa Elmqvist and Tysta Mari.
Outside on Östermalmstorg square you'll find the open-air restaurant Lisa that serve mainly seafood.
If you're looking for peace and quite you should definitely stay far away from Stureplan by night. Here the party doesn't stop until the break of dawn!
Subway: Östermalmstorg
6. SKANSEN
Bring the family to unique Skansen and get a taste of Swedish culture and tradition.
.jpg)
Photo: Skansen
A visit to Skansen, founded in 1891 by Artur Hazelius, is a unique experience. Here youå™ll find plenty of attractions and activities all in one place. There's a zoo housing among other creatures bears and moose, gardens, the Skansen aquarium, the Solliden stage and plenty more.
Also, around 160 buildings from all over Sweden were moved here in an effort to preserve the country's enormous cultural heritage. In these buildings there are activities like glass-making and shoe making, all for the sake of preserving old traditions and culture.
Skansen is the ultimate destination for the entire family, all year round!
A visit to Stockholm's cosiest Christmas market - arranged here ever year - is also strongly recommended.
Price:
Adult 65-110 kr, 6-15 years 30-50kr
Djurgårdsslätten 49-51 - Stockholm
Djurgården - downtown Stockholm
Phone: 08-442 80 00
www.skansen.se
7. GRÖNA LUND
An extremely popular amusement park in a scenic environment with loads of activities that attract both young and old.
.bmp)
Photo: Gröna Lund
Gröna Lund was founded towards the end of the 19th century and has since then been a very popular and well-frequented amusement park in Stockholm. Here you'll find loads of entertainment in beautiful environments along the waterfront.
Upwards of thirty rides, restaurants and a big concert stage are some of the things that Gröna Lund has to offer.
Here you'll find the world's tallest free fall ride and plenty of other attractions like the tunnel of love, the funny house, and the dodgem cars. Gröna Lund is simply a place for adults and kids to go and have fun.
If you get tired of riding the roller coaster there are tons of other activities like lotteries, amusement park pentathlons, and candy floss eating.
Have a blast!
8. THE CITY HALL (Stadshuset)
You'll find one of the most beautiful and most famous buildings in Stockholm on Kungsholmen.
.jpg)
Photo: Ludde Solén
The location on Riddarfjärden can hardly be better. Since 1923, the beautiful City Hall, drawn by Ragnar Östberg has gilded Stockholm's skyline. With the aid of its characteristic body in bricks, the tower with the Three Crowns on top and the Nobel parties, the City Hall has positioned itself as a given attraction in Stockholm.
Why not pay a visit and take a guided tour through among other things the Blue hall where the Nobel banquette is held annually? Between May and September you can also walk up the tower and from there get an incredible view of the city.
On sunny days many Stockholmers and tourists can be seen sunbathing in front of City Hall in the City Hall Park. Even from there you're given an impressive view of Södermalm and the waters of Riddarfjärden.
Sightseeing price:
Adult 60 SEK, 12-18 years 30 SEK
Hantverkargatan 1 - Stockholm
Kungsholmen - downtown Stockholm
Phone: 08-508 290 58
www.stockholm.se/cityhall
9. THE VASA MUSEUM (Vasamuseet)
When the man-of-war ship Vasa set out on its maiden voyage in 1628 it sank in Stockholm's canal. In 1691 it was however towed and is now on display at one of Stockholm's most well-frequented museums.
The story of the Vasa is both exciting and at the same time slightly improbable. Despite indications that the ship was unstable, it was sent out on open waters. It didn't manage to travel far before it capsized in Stockholm's canal.
The museum building that has been visited by millions was completed in 1990 and can be recognized by the masts sticking out of its roof. Here you can aside from examining the impressive and well-preserved ship also enjoy the exciting side-exhibits.
There's also both a restaurant and a store.
Price:
Adult 95 Kr, 0-17 years Free
Galärvarvsvägen 14 - Stockholm
Djurgården - downtown Stockholm
Phone: 08-519 548 00
www.vasamuseet.se
|
(3).jpg)
2010 
